Port Authority: A Comprehensive Look at Where Imported Vehicles Enter the U.S.

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Ever get nervous passing through customs, feeling like those steely-eyed agents are unduly suspicious? By comparison, new cars have it easy, usually entering the country with little more than an electronic data exchange. Twenty ­percent of the 14.5 million new vehicles sold in 2012 were built overseas and arrived via 19 American seaports. While neither Canadian- nor Mexican-built vehicles are usually counted as “imports,” our NAFTA partners shipped an additional 3.5 million vehicles into the U.S. last year. Upon arrival, all of these cars and trucks undergo some manner of processing, from an inspection and “throw-ins,” such as floor mats, to damage repair and the installation of accessories. Here’s where vehicles get their passports stamped:

One-77 on a 747
Every year, a handful of vehicles enter the country as airfreight. Lamborghini told us that 10 to 15 percent of its cars log frequent-flier miles en route to customers, arriving primarily in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami. Bentley and Aston Martin also use air delivery.

global entry program

Brunswick, Georgia, was the busiest seaport in 2012, handling vehicles from brands as diverse as Kia, Volkswagen, and Aston Martin. Together, the 10 busiest ports handle 66 percent of all imported vehicles.

One if by land, two if by sea
Vehicles from Mexico arrive by both train and ship, and a single model might enter the country at several different locations. The Mexican-built Ford Fiesta crosses the Texas border in Eagle Pass, El Paso, and Laredo, while also arriving at the Jacksonville port in Florida and the Port of Baltimore.

All-American
Globalization means that even domestic automakers are importers, bringing Buicks from South Korea, Fords from Turkey, and all manner of Chrysler models from both north and south of the border. In fact, only one volume brand is solely American-made: Jeep. All Jeep vehicles are assembled in either Detroit; Toledo, Ohio; or Belvidere, Illinois.

Detroit dock city
The single largest point of entry for automobiles built on foreign soil isn’t a seaport at all. In something of an ironic twist, Detroit is actually the biggest port, handling the bulk of Canadian exports from assembly plants in Ontario: 1.2 million units last year. New vehicles are imported through Detroit both by rail and truck.